Dame Vera Lynn Turns 100

Most Americans when asked the question, "Who was the first British artist to top the American singles charts?", would probably reply "The Beatles." They would also happen to be wrong. That honour would go to Dame Vera Lynn, who topped the Billboard singles chart on July 12 1952 with "Auf Wiederseh'n Sweetheart"  nearly eleven years before The Beatles arrived in the United States. It remained at the top of the chart for nine weeks.

There should be little wonder that Dame Vera Lynn would be the first British artist to top the American charts, as she is easily one of the most popular British recording artists of all time. Her first single, The General's Fast Asleep", was released in 1935. It was in 1939 that her recording of  "We'll Meet Again" made her a superstar. It proved to be one of the most popular songs of the World War II era and perhaps the song most associated with Dame Vera Lynn. Later Dame Vera Lynn's recording of the song would be used as the closing song of the classic film Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964).  By 1941 Dame Vera Lynn had her own radio show, Sincerely Yours. During World War II she toured Egypt, India, and Burma, entertaining the troops.

Although she is now strongly identified with World War II, Dame Vera Lynn continued to be successful well after the war. When the New Music Express compiled the first ever British singles chart in 1952, Dame Vera Lynn had no less than three entries in the top twelve for the year: "The Homing Waltz", "Auf Wiederseh'n Sweetheart", and  "Forget Me Not". Her song "My Son, My Son" became her first number one on the British singles chart in 1954. In 1967  "It Hurts To Say Goodbye" proved to be a hit for Dame Vera Lynn in several countries, including the United States.

Ultimately Dame Vera Lynn would be the only artist to have hits on the British singles and album charts since their very beginning in 1952 into the 21st Century. She is also the oldest living artist to have a hit on the British album chart. The greatest hits album We'll Meet Again: The Very Best of Vera Lynn topped the chart in September 2009, when Dame Vera Lynn was 92. Her new album, Vera Lynn 100, is currently burning up the British album chart, so that ultimately Dame Vera Lynn might break her own record.

Of course, Dame Vera Lynn is not only revered by the British public for her success as a recording star. She entertained British troops during World War II. In 1958 she formed a charity for The Stars Organisation for Cerebral Palsy. In 1976 she founded the Vera Lynn Charity Breast Cancer Research Trust. She has also dedicated time to charities for ex-servicemen and disabled children. Between her success as a recording star and her considerable charity work, Dame Vera Lynn was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in the 1975 Birthday Honours. In 2000 Dame Vera Lynn topped a poll of Brits who best exemplified the spirit of the 20th century.

At 100 years old Dame Vera Lynn definitely has the one of the longest careers of any singer anywhere. And as demonstrated by the success of her current album, she is still extremely popular. Indeed, short of perhaps The Beatles or The Rolling Stones, it would be difficult to find any British recording star who has had the success of Dame Vera Lynn.


In honour of Dame Vera Lynn's 100th birthday, here is perhaps her most famous song, "We'll Meet Again".

Remembering Robert Osborne: A Collection of Tributes

Film historian and Turner Classic Movies host Robert Osborne died on March 6 2017 at the age of 84. He was survived by his partner, stage director and producer David Staller; his family; his friends; and a legion of adoring fans. Robert Osborne was something special, both to those who knew him personally and the many who only knew him as the host of Turner Classic Movies. His importance to the classic film community cannot be overestimated. With the perfect combination of charm, class, and an encyclopaedic knowledge of film history, Robert Osborne not only ensured that Turner Classic Movies would be a success, but he introduced an entire new generation to classic film. Those who knew him personally always had the same thing to say of Robert Osborne, that he was a consummate gentleman. No one ever heard a bad word said of Robert Osborne. He was known not only for his class and charm, but for his kindness, his warmth, his respect for others, and his integrity.

In honour of Robert Osborne I thought I would put together a small collection of tributes to him from my fellow classic film buffs, as well as links to the many tributes to him that have been published since his death.

K.C. of A Classic Movie Blog:

When Robert Osborne interviewed classic film stars, he served as a sort of surrogate for his audience. Our love for these legends flowed through him. He was so courtly and kind, especially with the ladies, who are always held up to so much more scrutiny in their later years. With the added difficulties of age, from frailty to fading memories or hearing, he always managed to read the emotions of his subjects, calibrating his tone and approach perfectly. He seemed incapable of being offensive or inappropriate. I think he had inherent charm.

Osborne had a taste of the acting life, and devoted his career to entertainment and the history of cinema. It gave him more compassion. He understood when a much-desired interview subject, having already given so much to the public, no longer saw the benefit in traveling to a film festival or a television studio to give more. For that reason he was adored and trusted.

Paula Guthat of Paula's Cinema Club, Founder of TCM Party and Co-Founder of Cinema Detroit:
 
My memory has been pretty sketchy lately, and I have not much to fall back on since my MacBookPro failed last week. But I do remember most vividly some of the few times I saw Robert Osborne in person at the 2013 TCMFF, and his extraordinary grace and unflappability.

The first time occurred at the media call. It was my first time going to the festival and I was so in awe of him. I was actually nervous to be in the same room with him. He strolled out and spoke for a little while and then took questions. He didn't shy away from opinions. I remember specifically that he defended the studio system, and said the Production Code actually produced some really creative filmmaking, and that explicitness doesn't guarantee sexiness or humor -- in fact it sometimes destroyed both. "Having a cap on some of that stuff so that people had to sneak around it made it a little more clever.”

He alluded the darker side of Old Hollywood with a reference to the "5 o'clock girls," one of whom he said Marilyn Monroe had been. He was a bridge to the studio era, he knew everyone, or someone who had known them. He was a total authority, but he carried it lightly; he had this way of disagreeing with or correcting people that was so smooth you barely noticed it.

He absolutely knew what I was just starting to understand: he and TCM were important, and that he, as the channel's standard bearer and most important face, was helping viewers through unemployment, illness, grief, divorce, family issues...whatever was going on. He and TCM were also bringing people together on- and off-line, and he got that too. He knew about TCM Party, the live tweet of TCM I started, and I was just shocked and delighted to hear him mention it.

Later I saw him in the lobby of the hotel, and I feared for his safety. No, seriously. To say he was mobbed would be an understatement. I always thought the first thing I'd ask him was whether he needed security on the TCM Cruise. There's not much place to hide on a ship in the middle of the ocean.

One of 2013's hot tickets was The General at Grauman's. Robert introduced it and mentioned that that particular screening was one of the last before they remodeled it. It turned out that the remodel was fairly respectful, but at the time no one truly knew what was going to happen with it. People booed, actually booed, him! He didn't even flinch. "Don’t throw anything," he said. "Well, if you do, throw a Porsche.”

Next year, I said. Next year I'll talk to him. I was too afraid this year, but next year, I'll definitely go right up to him and talk to him.

But it didn't happen. By the time the TCMFF 2014 rolled around, my husband and I had a movie theatre of our own, and I had this idea that if I programmed some classics, people would show up. This idea was wrong, as it turned out, but to my eternal regret, I stuck to the multiplex, checking out possible bookings, during what is now the de facto farewell to Mr. Osborne, the surprise tribute at the Montalban Theatre. In my defense, it was listed as a Q & A in the schedule, and it was a total surprise, even to him apparently.

In retrospect, he seemed in very good health in 2014, but he missed the 2015 fest, and was seen so infrequently on the channel itself, that by the time the 2016 fest rolled around, I wasn't really expecting him to be there, and he wasn't.

So I missed out meeting and chatting with him on this plane of existence. I hope there is a classic movie section of Heaven, maybe I can finally meet him there.

I can't help but think it's a shame that he never wrote a tell-all. Robert Osborne had forgotten more about Hollywood and its denizens than most anyone else ever knew. The changes in society and the industry he witnessed in his lifetime were massive and so was the institutional knowledge of Old Hollywood that went with him. But that wasn't his style. He epitomized elegance and discretion, and we'll never see his like again.

Will McKinley of Cinematically Insane, Freelance Social Media & Copywriting at getTV, Video Producer/Director at Red Thread, and Freelance Writer/Producer:

Over the years I often saw interviews with Robert Osborne where he talked about comforting fans during times of illness. He didn’t visit them in person, of course, but he did come into their homes (or hospital rooms) three or four times every night, thanks to his job as host of Turner Classic Movies.

It makes sense. For those of us who grew up loving them, old movies are comfort food. They’re the best pick-me-up, tranquilizer, insomnia treatment, companion, family heirloom. Whatever you need it to be tonight, that’s what a classic film is. And Robert was like that friend who can always be counted on to bring flowers when you’re under the weather. Except his bouquet was filled with movies.

I always figured, “How nice it is for the older folks, that they have Robert when they’re ill.” And then I got sick. It wasn’t planned, of course; these things never are. But it happened, and there I was in the hospital for weeks on end. It was December, cold and dark, and I was scared. But there was Robert Osborne on TCM every night, excited to show me a film I had never seen, or seen a million times.

Years later, I met him. I shook his hand. He smiled warmly, like he had waited his whole life to meet me.
“Thank you,” I said. “For all you do for classic film fans. We appreciate it more than you know.”  

Links to Various Tributes:

"Farewell, Our Silver Fox" by Brandie Ashe at True Classics

"Farewell Robert O" by Andy Ross at The Loafer

"Farewell to Robert Osborne" by Laura at Laura's Miscellaneous Musings

"How Turner Classic Movies Is Helping One of Its Hosts Grieve Robert Osborne’s Death" by Tiffany Vazquez from Slate

"The Late Great Robert Osborne" by Terence Towles Canote at A Shroud of Thoughts

"My Memories of Robert Osborne" by Raquel Stecher at Out of the Past: A Classic Film Blog

"Remembering Robert Osborne" by  Lara Gabrielle Fowler at Backlots

"Remembering Robert Osborne, a Friend to All Classic Film Fans" by Jessica Pickens at Comet Over Hollywood

"Remembering Robert Osborne" by Beth Ann Gallagher at Spellbound

"Remembering Robert Osborne" by Jill Blake at Streamline, the Filmstruck Blog

"Robert Osborne - Requiescat in Pace" by Jacqueline T. Lynch at Another Old Movie Blog

"TCM's Ben Mankiewicz Remembers Robert Osborne: 'The Signature Face of a Network Unlike Any Other'" by Ben Makiewicz at The Hollywood Reporter

"You're Welcome Here Anytime--Remembering Robert Osborne" by Jill Blake from The Retro Set

"No Particular Place to Go" by Chuck Berry

If you have not heard yet, the legendary Chuck Berry has died. It would be difficult to find an artist who had more influence on rock 'n' roll. He endowed rock 'n' roll with a purer electric guitar sound than those few rock 'n' roll stars who preceded him, and he elevated the importance of the guitar solo. Without Chuck Berry we would not have The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Who, or many other rock bands. In fact, it might well be impossible to find a rock artist who was not influenced by Chuck Berry.

I am busy preparing a very important post for tomorrow, so I don't have time to eulogise Mr. Berry yet. I will then leave you with my all time favourite Chuck Berry song, "No Particular Place to Go".

Five Movies for St. Patrick's Day

I don't celebrate St. Patrick's Day myself. It's not that I have anything against the day. It's a simple case that I am not Irish, Nigerian, Montserratian, Catholic, an engineer, or a paralegal, and growing up my English/German household ( with some Scottish and Cherokee thrown in for good measure) never observed the day. That having been said, I do enjoy watching other people celebrate St. Patrick's Day, and I am happy when any day brings others joy. I also have to say that while I don't have a drop of Irish blood in me, I do have an appreciation for Irish history and culture. Here then for those who do celebrate St. Patrick's Day are five movies more than suitable for the day.

Hungry Hill (1947):   Hungry Hill is based on the novel of the same name by Daphne du Maurier. It centres on two feuding families. Some of the film was actually shot in Ireland (County Wickow, to be exact), although most of it was shot at Denham Studios in Buckinghamshire, England. Admittedly the leads are about as Irish as I am, but both Margaret Lockwood and Dennis Price give sterling performances, as does the rest of the cast. And while Hungry Hill runs only 92 minutes, it has the epic feel of a longer film. Indeed, the film's composition is beautiful, with several impressive shots throughout. The ballroom sequence is not to be missed.

The Quiet Man  (1952): The Quiet Man is about as Irish as a Hollywood film can get. It was directed by a man of Irish descent (John Ford) and stars perhaps the most famous Irish actress of all time (Maureen O'Hara). Much of the film was also shot in Ireland (County Mayo and County Galway). It is beautifully photographed and benefits from a solid script as well. There really isn't much more I can say about The Quiet Man that hasn't been said before. It's considered one of John Ford's best films.

Darby O'Gill and the Little People (1959):  For better or worse, I suspect this is what comes to the minds of most people of my generation when they think of movies about Ireland. Except for the noticeably Scottish Sean Connery and the noticeably English Janet Munro, the cast is filled out by some fine Irish actors, including Albert Sharpe (as the title character), Jimmy O'Dea, and Kieron Moore. Darby O'Gill and the Little People is also a whole lot of fun and draws a bit upon Irish folklore, from leprechauns to banshees. I'm not sure what people from Ireland actually think of the film, but for this Sasanach it is one of the most enjoyable live-action Disney films of its era.

The Secret of Roan Inish (1994):  The Secret of Roan Inish is based on the novel The Secret of the Ron Mor Skerry by Rosalie K. Fry, which is actually set in Scotland, but the location was moved to Ireland with appropriate changes made for the movie. Most of the film was shot in County Donegal, Ireland, with some scenes shot on  the Isle of Mull in Argyll, Scotland. The film draws heavily upon Irish folklore, particularly myths about the selkies common to Ireland, Scotland, and the Faroe Islands. It has a great script and it is also beautifully shot. In fact, I think it would be apt to call it a poem on film. While fans of The Quiet Man might disagree with me, it is possibly the best film on this list.

Song of the Sea (2014): Song of the Sea is a cel animated film from the same people who made the earlier animated fantasy The Secret of Kells (2009). It is an absolutely beautiful film that draws heavily upon Irish mythology, not only including selkies, but such figures as Manannán mac Lir and Macha. It also boasts well-developed characters and a very good story. For fans of animation it is a welcome break from many of the animated films emerging from Hollywood these days.

3rd Annual Favourite TV Show Episode Blogathon Reminder

This is just a reminder that my 3rd Annual Favourite TV Show Episode Blogathon begins next Friday, March 24, and runs though (and including) Sunday, March 26. There's still time to sign up to write an entry. You can do so here at the original announcement post. On March 24 I will will set up a post that will include all of the posts in the blogathon.

Here's to another successful blogathon!

My 39th Birthday...Again

Many of you might know today is my birthday. Since I really don't want to write a full-fledged blog post today, I thought instead I would do what I often do on holidays: post pin-ups. In this case I have 10 lovely Pisceans. They aren't in any particular order, although I saved my very favourite for last (if you know me well, you probably already know who it is).

Nancy Kovack (born March 11)

Sue Ane Langdon (born March 8)

Arline Judge (born February 21)

Dorothy Mackaill  (born March 8)

Ann Sheridan (born February 21)

Leslie Parrish (born March 18)

Paula Prentiss (born March 4)

Barbara Luna (born March 2)

Jessie Matthews (born March 11)

Cyd Charisse (born March 8)

These Great Ladies by Lyndsy Spence

Author Lyndsy Spence has a talent for shedding light on remarkable women in British history. She has written biographies of such diverse subjects as the controversial Diana Mosley and beloved actress Margaret Lockwood. Her latest book, These Great Ladies: Peeresses and Pariahs, came out just last month.

These Great Ladies: Peeresses and Pariahs is a collection of pen portraits of various women from British, 20th Century history. Some, such as Margaret, Duchess of Argyll and author Joan Wyndham, are still somewhat famous to this day. Others, such as Jean, Viscountess Massereene, have somewhat faded into obscurity. Regardless of how famous they are today, each and every one of the women profiled by Miss Spence is fascinating in her own right. What is more they are a diverse group, from those born on the wrong side of the tracks (as we would say in the Colonies) to aristocrats to one who was more royal than the British Royals themselves (Mariga Guinness).

The stories Lyndsy Spence tells of these remarkable women range from the scandalous to the tragic.  What is more, they are set across a wide swathe of Anglo-American society, from the country houses of the United Kingdom to the mansions of Hollywood. These Great Ladies: Peeresses and Pariahs presents us with women who married multiple times, women who fought drug addiction, women who lived bohemian lives, and women who went to great lengths to support various charities.

Miss Spence writes of these women with a light tone, while at the same time recognising the seriousness of much of the subject matter (such as when dealing with the politics of the eras). What is more, she treats each of these women sympathetically, recognising that they were human beings who were both products of their times and their circumstances. Using a concise but very readable style, Lyndsy Spence is able to give us insight into her various subjects that isn't often seen even in full length biographies.

These Great Ladies: Peeresses and Pariahs is highly recommended for anyone who is interested in British, 20th Century history, the British aristocracy, or who simply enjoys reading about the lives of fascinating women. In the book Miss Spence covers Margaret, Duchess of Argyll; Mariga Guinness; Sylvia Ashley; Joan Wyndham;  Enid Lindeman:;Venetia Montagu; Irene Curzon; and Jean, Viscountess Massereene.

These Great Ladies: Peeresses and Pariahs is available through Amazon and various fine book sellers.